Fear Of Terrorism, Security Issues Dominate Poll Findings
Frightened by the events of 9/11 and the possibility of more terrorism, Americans are reluctant to accept new immigrants, and more than half of all Americans feel that the United States is not taking adequate steps to ensure that terrorists are kept from legally entering the country. These are two of the many findings of a recent poll on immigration conducted by Hamilton College (Clinton, N.Y.) and administered by Zogby International.
“Perhaps no symbol is more strongly associated with the ideals of the United States than the Statue of Liberty. The image is that of a country that welcomes the tired and the hungry from countries around the world. Yet contrary to the spirit of Lady liberty, everyone is not welcome to our theoretical melting pot. Despite a general sense that immigrants enhance our society, 41 percent of Americans favor decreasing immigration levels and only 12 percent would favor increasing the level of immigration to the U.S.,” observes Paul Hagstrom, the Hamilton College economics professor who oversaw this project.
No other recent poll has examined immigration from so many angles. The survey of 1,078 randomly selected Americans gathered opinions on perceived illegal immigrant populations, assimilation and education, public assistance and the economy, job security, future governmental policy, refugee populations, citizenship and the overall impact of immigrants on American society.
Despite the fact that 57 percent of all Americans believe immigrants enhance American society, more than 40 percent of Americans favor decreasing immigration levels. Opinions vary significantly by political party, age, education, and region of the country.
Fear of terrorism has also affected willingness to accept refugees from countries that might support terrorism. More than 62 percent of Americans are against allowing refugees from countries that harbor terrorists into the U.S., and almost 50 percent feel those fleeing Saddam Hussein should not be welcomed here.
“If our goal is to eliminate the evils of terrorism in Iraq, we must make sure our goals are consistent regarding the admittance of those fleeing these same evils,” says Hamilton student researcher Brian Alward.
More than twice as many Americans would be uncomfortable with a Middle Eastern immigrant moving into their neighborhood than one from Europe, Asia, or Mexico.
The survey was designed and analyzed by Hamilton Economics Professor Paul Hagstrom and his students and is the sixth in a series of polls designed by Hamilton College researchers, funded by Hamilton’s Arthur Levitt Public Affairs Center and administered by the Zogby International polling firm. The poll was conducted between November 21 and 26, 2002 has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent.
